SEC players of the week: Week 5 winners revealed

From Tennessee’s thrilling win over Georgia to LSU’s offensive explosion in its blowout of Mizzou, there were a number of standout performances from around the SEC in the fifth week of the season.

As it does each week, the conference honored those players Monday morning by naming its players of the week in six categories.

Offensive: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Guice replaced an injured Leonard Fournette and there was little or no drop off in production in the Tigers’ first week under the direction of Ed Orgeron. Guice rushed for 163 yards and three scores on 17 carries in a Tigers’ effort that netted them the most yards they’ve ever prduced in an SEC game.

Defensive: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Barnett is honored for the second straight week, after being named the defensive lineman of the week last Monday. He made five tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and collected two sacks, playing a pivotol role down the stretch of the Vols’ 34-31 win over Georgia.

It’s rare for a team to block a kick, let alone two in a season. It’s practically unheard of for a player to do it twice, but that’s exactly what Skipper has done this season, blocking his second kick in five weeks on a 41-yard attempt in the fourth quarter of Arkansas’ 52-10 win over Alcorn State.

Lovingood, acting as the long snapper, launched the ball into punter Trevor Daniel’s hands. Daniel booted an arcing ball to the Georgia 6-yard line, where — who else — Lovingood was to catch it and down the punt.

Freshman: Joshua Jacobs, RB, Alabama

The Crimson Tide featured dualing freshman in their backfield, with Jacobs joining quarterback Jalen Hurts, and it resulted in a 34-6 win over Kentucky. Jacobs, in his first career start, rushed for 100 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown, converting an impressive nine first downs.

Offensive line: Ethan Pocic, C, LSU

The improvement along the LSU offensive line was given the most credit for the Tigers’ offensive renaissance under Orgeron. Leading the charge was Pocic, a senior expected to be one of the first linemen off the board in the 2017 NFL draft.

Defensive line: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M

Hall collected six tackles, including 3.5 for loss, in the Aggies’ 24-13 win on the road over South Carolina. The Aggies didn’t allow the Gamecocks to reach the end zone after a 75-yard rush on the first play of the game.